Aurora theater shooting: Prosecutors to seek death penalty

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CENTENNIAL - For the man accused of killing 12 defenseless people at an Aurora movie theater, Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler said Monday the only deserving punishment is death.

Standing with formal straightness, Brauchler said in court he will seek the death penalty against theater shooting suspect James Holmes. He reached his conclusion after personally speaking to 60 family members of the slain, Brauchler said, and, in total, he said his office had reached out to more than 800 relatives of victims, shooting survivors and their families.

"It is my determination and my intention that, in this case, for James Eagan Holmes, justice is death," Brauchler said.

Inside the hushed courtroom, emotions played out in slow-motion.

Victims, sitting on one side of the courtroom, reached for tissues, wiped tears and reacted to the decision that was widely expected with muted expressions of grief.